Wearable information terminal

ABSTRACT

A wearable information terminal that can be worn by a user is provided with: a main body; a display that is incorporated in the main body and includes a screen; a controller that is incorporated in the main body and executes display processing onto the screen; and an operation detector that detects input operation executed by the user with respect to the controller. The operation detector is disposed at a different position in the main body from the position of the screen.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wearable information terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, portable wireless devices such as a wearableinformation terminal have become popular due to the user-friendlinessthat they can be used regardless of the time and location. Inparticular, with respect to the wearable information terminal,miniaturization is progressing because it is worn on the body and used.Similarly, majority of displays equipped on small terminals are smallcompared to those of smartphones and tablets. Many displays of thewearable information terminal adopt the touch panel, and selection andinput operation are possible by touch operation of the fingertip, touchpen, and the like.

As an example of such wearable information terminal, in Patent Document1, there is disclosed “a wrist watch type electronic note apparatusconfigured of: an infrared laser beam scanning means for detecting thedirection and distance of fingertips during writing on the hand; a meansfor measuring the positions of the fingertips by receiving lightreflected from the fingertips; a skin contact sound detection meanswhich detects a handwriting state; a display means for note data; and avibration generating means for properly responding to an operator”(excerption of the abstract).

Also, in Patent Document 2, there is disclosed “a wearable informationterminal wearable around a user's arm having a display, a touch pad onthe outside to the opposite position of the display when worn on theuser's arm, a sensor detecting an inclination of the wearableinformation terminal against a reference axis, and a controller to showa pointer icon at a position corresponding to an operation position onthe display when an operation to the touch pad is detected and to switchthe display to an energy saving mode in a case where the inclination iswithin a predetermined range and the operation to the touch pad isundetected” (excerption of the abstract).

CITATION LIST Patent Document

PATENT DOCUMENT 1: Japanese Patent No. 4899108

PATENT DOCUMENT 2: U.S. Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2015286246

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

With respect to the display of the device disclosed in Patent Document1, it is necessary to separately provide an optical system for detectingthe direction and distance of the fingertips during handwriting on thesurface of the back of the hand or the palm of the hand which is notuser-friendly. Also, with respect to the wearable information terminaldisclosed in Patent Document 2, because the touch pad is disposed at theopposite position of the display namely on the opposite side of thedisplay across the wrist, it is hard to intuitively realize the inputoperation. From such circumstances, it is desired to contrive ways toimprove operability of the wearable information terminal.

The present invention has been achieved in view of the circumstancesdescribed above, and its object is to provide a technology for improvingoperability of the wearable information terminal.

Solution to Problem

The object described above can be achieved by the configurations and thefunctions disclosed in the claims. The present invention includes pluralmeans that solve the problem described above. An example of them is awearable information terminal that can be worn by a user and is providedwith: a main body unit; a display device that is incorporated in themain body unit and includes a screen; a control device that isincorporated in the main body unit and executes display processing ontothe screen; and an operation detection unit that detects input operationperformed by the user with respect to the control device. The operationdetection unit is disposed at a different position in the main body unitfrom the position of the screen.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide atechnology for improving operability of the wearable informationterminal. Also, problems, configurations and effects other than thosedescribed above will be clarified by embodiments described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration drawing of a wearable informationterminal related to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a frame (plan view).

FIG. 3 is an A-A cross-sectional view in FIG. 1, wherein (a) shows anexample in which contact detection units are provided on the uppersurface of the frame, and (b) shows an example in which a contactdetection unit is provided on the bottom surface of the frame inaddition to (a).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that shows a hardware configuration of thewearable information terminal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that shows a function configuration of acontroller of the wearable information terminal.

FIG. 6 is a drawing that shows the correspondence relation between thecontact detection unit disposed in the frame and the screen region.

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6, wherein (a) shows a swipemotion, and (b) shows transition of the pointer in a turning touch.

FIG. 8 is a drawing that shows an example of operation information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart that shows a process flow of a wearableinformation terminal.

FIG. 10 is a drawing that shows an example in which the desktop screenis made to transit by frame operation.

FIG. 11 is a drawing that shows another example in which the desktopscreen is made to transit by frame operation.

FIG. 12 is a drawing that shows an example in which the browser screenis made to transit by frame operation.

FIG. 13 is a drawing that shows an example in which the map screen ismade to transit by frame operation.

FIG. 14 is a drawing that shows an example in which the map screen ismade to transit by frame operation, wherein (a) shows a standard sizedisplay example, and (b) shows an enlarged display example.

FIG. 15 is a drawing that shows an example in which the map screen ismade to transit by frame operation, wherein (a) shows a pinch-in displayexample, and (b) shows a pinch-out display example.

FIG. 16 is a drawing that shows an operation example of a wearableinformation terminal having a quadrangular frame, wherein (a) shows astandard size display example, and (b) shows an enlarged displayexample.

FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration drawing of the wearable informationterminal shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a drawing that shows an input signal processing fordesignating the xy-coordinate with the vertical axis and the horizontalaxis of the frame being deemed to be the y-axis and the x-axisrespectively.

FIG. 19 is a drawing that shows an operation example of a wearableinformation terminal using a pressure-sensitive sensor as the contactdetection unit.

FIG. 20 is a drawing that shows another operation example of a wearableinformation terminal using a pressure-sensitive sensor as the contactdetection unit.

FIG. 21 is a drawing that shows an operation example of a wearableinformation terminal including a pressure-sensitive sensor on the bottomsurface.

FIG. 22 is a drawing that shows another operation example of a wearableinformation terminal including a pressure-sensitive sensor on the bottomsurface.

FIG. 23 is a drawing that shows an operation example in a telephoneapplication.

FIG. 24 is a drawing that shows a frame operation example (scroll of thescreen).

FIG. 25 is a drawing that shows another example of the frame operation(scroll of the screen), wherein (a) shows an example of touch start froma position equivalent to the vicinity of 12 o'clock of the frame, and(b) shows an example of touch start from a position equivalent to thevicinity of 9 o'clock of the frame.

FIG. 26 is a drawing that shows another example of the frame operation(scroll of the screen), wherein (a) shows an example of a scroll of thescreen downward by a touch motion of the lower part of the frame, and(b) shows an example of a scroll of the screen to the upper right by atouch motion of the upper right part of the frame.

FIG. 27 is a drawing that shows another example of the frame operation(scroll of the screen).

FIG. 28 is a drawing that shows a frame operation example in a soundcontroller screen.

FIG. 29 is a drawing that shows a frame operation (screen separation) ofa wearable information terminal.

FIG. 30 is a drawing that shows a return operation from a malfunction ofa wearable information terminal, wherein (a) shows an example of doubletapping the frame, and (b) shows an example of tapping the screen.

FIG. 31 is a schematic configuration drawing of a wearable informationterminal receiving a return operation from a malfunction.

FIG. 32 is a drawing that shows a return operation from a malfunction ofa wearable information terminal, wherein (a) shows an operation oftracing the screen along with the wearing section, and (b) shows anexample of including a hard button for the return operation.

FIG. 33 is a schematic configuration drawing of a wearable informationterminal mounting a gyroscope sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Below, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detailusing the drawings. In explanations below, same configurations will bemarked with a same reference sign, and duplicated explanation will beomitted.

A schematic configuration drawing of a wearable information terminalrelated to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The wearableinformation terminal 1 of FIG. 1 includes a screen 2 for displayinginformation, a frame 3 disposed so as to surround the screen 2, and awearing section 5 for wearing the wearable information terminal 1 to thebody, and contact detection units 4 are disposed in the frame 3 alongthe outer periphery of the screen 2. The contact detection unitsfunction as an operation detection unit because the contact detectionunits detect the operation of the user. Although it will be describedbelow, another example of the operation detection unit may be agyroscope sensor or a touch panel laminated on the screen.

Although 16 contact detection units 4 are disposed in the periphery ofthe screen 2 in FIG. 1, the amount of the contact detection units 4 isnot limited to 16. Further, although a plurality of the contactdetection units 4 is disposed along the outer periphery of the screen 2in FIG. 1, when the shape of the contact detection units 4 can beintegrally formed into the shape along the screen 2 the contactdetection unit 4 may be configured as a single unit. Furthermore,although the contact detection units 4 are disposed so as to surroundthe outer periphery of the screen 2, it is not limited to the case ofsurrounding the outer periphery continuously, and the contact detectionunits 4 may be disposed in a discontinuous manner in a part on the outerperiphery as shown in FIG. 1.

The contact detection unit 4 is configured of a touch sensor forexample. It may be of either the resistance membrane type or theelectrostatic capacitance type as far as it can detect contact of thefinger or the hand of a human being, another part of the human body usedfor operation, a touch pen, and the like, and may be of other typesalso. Further, the contact detection unit 4 may be a pressure-sensitivesensor. The pressure-sensitive sensor can detect also the intensity ofpressing-in in the thickness direction.

Also, with respect to the screen 2 and the frame 3, although a circularshape is shown in FIG. 1, it may be a polygonal shape including atriangular shape and a quadrangular shape. Because the wearableinformation terminal 1 has such configuration as described above, thereis no event that the operating finger hides the display of the screen 2,and the user can operate it while confirming the contents of the screen2.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view (plan view) of the frame 3. As shown in FIG.2, the frame 3 includes a bottom surface 3 a having a circular plateshape, a side surface 3 b having an annular shape projecting along theperipheral part of the bottom surface 3 a, and an upper surface 3 c(equivalent to the frame section) attached to the upper part of the sidesurface 3 b. The upper surface 3 c includes an opening section 3 c 1 forfitting the screen 2 to its center. Also, in the periphery of theopening section 3 c 1 of the upper surface 3 c, recessed sections 3 c 2for fitting the contact detection units 4 are provided by plural numbers(16 pieces in FIG. 1). Respective contact detection units 4 of FIG. 1are incorporated in respective recessed sections 3 c 2 of the uppersurface 3 c one by one.

FIG. 3 is an A-A cross-sectional view in FIG. 1, wherein (a) shows anexample in which contact detection units 4 a are provided on the uppersurface 3 c of the frame, and (b) shows an example in which a contactdetection unit 4 b is provided on the bottom surface 3 a of the frame inaddition to (a). As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and (b), a controller 20 of awearable information terminal 1 a is incorporated within a spacesurrounded by the bottom surface 3 a, side surface 3 b, and uppersurface 3 c of the frame 3. Also, the contact detection unit 4 a isincorporated in each recessed section 3 c 2 of the upper surface 3 c,and each contact detection unit 4 a is electrically connected to thecontroller 20 through a bus 31. Further, the screen 2 is alsoelectrically connected to the controller 20 through a bus 32.

Also, in addition to the configuration of the wearable informationterminal 1 a, the wearable information terminal 1 b shown in FIG. 3 (b)includes the pressure-sensitive sensor 4 b as an additional contactdetection unit 4 on the bottom surface 3 a of the frame 3 namely on thesurface facing the wearing portion of the wearer of the bottom surface 3a of the frame 3. The pressure-sensitive sensor 4 b is also electricallyconnected to the controller 20 through a bus 33. Because otherconfigurations are the same as those of the wearable informationterminal 1 of FIG. 1, the wearable information terminal 1 a and thewearable information terminal 1 b are same to each other in a plan view.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that shows a hardware configuration of thewearable information terminal 1. The wearable information terminal 1 isconfigured by connecting a display device 210 including the screen 2,the contact detection units 4 a, 4 b, and a main power switch 220 to thecontroller 20. The controller 20 includes a CPU 201 as acontrol/calculation device, a RAM 202 as a volatile storage device, aROM 203 as a non-volatile storage device, an HDD 204 (may possibly be anSSD), and an interface (I/F) 205, and each of these configurationelements is connected to each other through a bus 206. The displaydevice 210, contact detection units 4 a, 4 b, and main power switch 220are connected to the I/F 205.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that shows a function configuration of thecontroller 20 of the wearable information terminal 1. The controller 20includes an application control unit 21, an operation conversion unit22, a display control unit 23, an operation information storage unit 24,and a screen management information storage unit 25. The applicationcontrol unit 21, operation conversion unit 22, and display control unit23 may be configured by that the CPU 201 loads software such as the OSand application stored in the ROM 203 and the HDD 204 to the RAM 202 andexecutes the software. Also, the application control unit 21, operationconversion unit 22, and display control unit 23 may be also configuredby an integrated circuit achieving the functions of them. The operationinformation storage unit 24 stores operation information that specifiesthe kind of operation detected by the contact detection units 4 a, 4 bfor each kind of the software stored in the wearable informationterminal 1 and the operation contents corresponding to them (will bedescribed using FIG. 8). The screen management information storage unit25 stores the last screen information displayed on the display device210 and the screen separation information which will be described below.The operation information storage unit 24 and the screen managementinformation storage unit 25 are configured of the storage devices suchas the RAM 202, ROM 203, or HDD 204.

FIG. 6 is a drawing that shows the correspondence relation between thecontact detection unit disposed in the frame and the screen region. Asshown in FIG. 6, the screen 2 includes the contact detection unit of thesame number of pieces with that of the contact detection units 4 namely16 pieces of the contact detection units 401 to 416 in the example ofFIG. 6 by radial lines (shown by single-dot chain lines) passing thescreen center point, and the screen 2 is separated into 16. One contactdetection unit is disposed between adjacent radial lines. Also,information (screen separation information) in which a separated screen211 for example of the screen 2 surrounded by the radial lines and acontact detection unit 401 that exists at the outer peripheral part ofthe separated screen 211 are made to correspond to each other is storedin the screen management information storage unit 25.

Further, when the finger of the user touches the contact detection unit401, a signal (input signal) of detecting the touch is outputted fromthe contact detection unit 401 to the controller 20, and the operationconversion unit 22 refers to the screen separation information,generates an operation signal for displaying a pointer (also called acursor) 100 at the initial set position of the separated screen 211 thatis made to correspond to the contact detection unit 401, and outputs theoperation signal to the display control unit 23. Further, when the touchposition of the finger at the contact detection unit 401 transits to anoptional two-dimensional direction of up, down, left, and right, theposition of the pointer icon 100 transits according to the change amountof the touch position.

Although such example was shown in FIG. 6 that the contact detectionunits 4 were provided by 16 pieces and the screen was separated into 16,the number of pieces of the contact detection units 4 and the screenseparation number are not limited to 16. Further, although the contactdetection unit and the separated screen corresponding to it were made tocorrespond to each other by 1 to 1 in the above description, it is alsopossible to make plural contact detection units correspond to oneseparated screen.

Also, out of applications executed in the wearable information terminal1, in an application suitable when there is provided a function ofdesignating a specific coordinate of the screen, although it is possibleto store the screen separation information in the controller 20beforehand, to read the screen separation information when theapplication is activated, and to execute the corresponding process forthe contact detection unit 4 and the separated screen, when only suchapplication is executed in the wearable information terminal 1 that thefunction of designating a specific coordinate of the screen is notrequired, it is not necessary to provide the screen separationinformation. In this case, it may be configured that, whichever of thecontact detection unit may be touched, the pointer is displayed at apredetermined initial set position within the screen, and the pointerposition transits according to the deviation amount of the touchposition. Further, it is also possible to be configured that, even whenthe screen separation information is not stored at the initial statenamely the shipping state for example of the wearable informationterminal 1, the screen separation information is installed in installingsuch application to the wearable information terminal 1 that is suitablewhen there is provided a function of designating a specific coordinateof the screen (including a case of installing such application bydownloading the same from the network).

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6, wherein (a) shows a swipemotion, and (b) shows transition of the pointer in a turning touch. Asshown in FIG. 7 (a), when the user touches an optional point Tch1 withinthe contact detection unit 401, the pointer is displayed at an initialset point P1 of the separated screen 211 that is made to correspond tothe contact detection unit 401. In this state, the user gives a swipe toa point Tch2 of the contact detection unit 401. When the distance fromTch1 to Tch2 is d, the display position of the pointer transits to aposition P2 that is shifted by the distance nd (n>0) in the samedirection of the swipe movement. Although the position P2 is within aseparated screen 212 in the example of FIG. 7 (a), there is also a casethat P2 is fitted into the separated screen 211 according to the setvalue of n or the value of the distance d.

Also, when the optional point Tch1 of the contact detection unit 401 isturned in the touched state as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the pointer rotatesat the initial set position P1.

FIG. 8 is a drawing that shows an example of operation information.Operation screen transit correspondence information is informationspecifying the correspondence relation of the kind of the application,the kind of the touch motion when the application is running, and thecontent of the screen transit by the touch motion. For example, evenwhen the touch motion is a motion of “tracing the frame”, when thedesktop screen has been displayed, the pointer icon is movinglydisplayed. However, when the mail application is running, if the motionof “tracing the frame” is executed, the screen scrolls. Thus, even in asimilar motion, the screen transit content changes according to therunning application, and therefore these correspondence relations arespecified in the operation screen transit correspondence information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart that shows a process flow of the wearableinformation terminal 1. When the main power switch 220 is pressed, apower supply signal is outputted to the controller 20. When the power issupplied (S01), the application control unit 21 determines the kind ofthe running application (S02), and extracts operation information fromthe operation information storage unit 24, the operation informationcorresponding to the kind of the running application. The runningapplication mentioned here also includes desktop screen display software(may be configured as a function of OS) of a case where a specificapplication has not been activated and the desktop screen has beendisplayed.

The operation conversion unit 22 holds the frame operation (S03/No), andthe contact detection unit 401 outputs a signal (input signal) showingthat the contact has been detected to the controller 20. When theoperation conversion unit 22 acquires the signal (S03/Yes), theoperation conversion unit 22 refers to the operation informationextracted in S01 and converts the input signal to an operation signal(S04). When the input signal is converted to the operation signalshowing the activation command of the application, an applicationactivation signal is outputted from the operation conversion unit 22 tothe application control unit 21. In the screen separation processdescribed below, screen separation information in which the separationnumber and the separation position of the screen and the contactdetection unit corresponding to them are rerated is stored beforehand inthe screen management information storage unit 25, and the operationconversion unit 22 refers to the screen separation information andconverts the input signal to an operation signal with respect to theseparated screen.

The input signal is a signal that shows the position of the contactdetection unit 4 that has been touched. The operation conversion unit 22determines the motion of touching the frame as “motion of tracing theframe”, “motion of tracing the frame in the width direction”, “twopoints (two axes) simultaneous touch of pinch-in/pinch-out and theframe”, “touching the frame section in question in the intended scrolldirection”, “frame touch position+touch motion”, or “double tapping”(refer to FIG. 8) based on the time series change of the input signal,converts the input signal to the operation signal, and outputs theoperation signal to the display control unit 23.

The display control unit 23 outputs a display control signal forexecuting display in accordance with the operation signal to the displaydevice 210 including the screen 2, and executes the display control(S05). In a case of a return motion from a malfunction described below,the display control unit 23 reads the last screen information from thescreen management information storage unit 25, and outputs a displaycontrol signal that displays the last screen shown by the last screeninformation to the display device 210. The processes from S02 to S05 arerepeated until the main power of the wearable information terminal 1 isturned OFF.

Below, operation examples of each application specified in the operationinformation of FIG. 8 will be explained.

(Desktop Screen 1)

FIG. 10 is a drawing that shows an example in which the desktop screenis altered by frame operation. In FIG. 10, plural icons are displayed onthe screen 2. Because the icons displayed on the small screen 2 aresmaller compared to the operating finger, it is hard to precisely touchthe target icon by the finger out of plural icons, and a malfunction maypossibly occur. Also, because the target icon is hidden by the operatingfingertip, the user himself/herself hardly realizes the relativepositional relation between the own fingertip at the time of the touchand the target icon. Therefore, in FIG. 10, the pointer icon 100 isdisplayed first on the screen 2. The user can optionally designate thedisplay method of the pointer icon 100. For example, it may be anoperation of touching, holding down, tapping, and the like of the screen2, and may be operation for the frame 3.

Also, the pointer icon 100 has a role of clarifying the selectedposition in the screen 2 for the user on a real-time basis. Here, withrespect to the shape and color of the pointer icon 100, the detail is noobject as far as the present selected position can be known clearly.

The pointer icon 100 can be operated by that the user touches the frame3. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the pointer icon 100 can be movedto the left and right (arrow B1) by tracing the frame 3 in the lateraldirection (arrow A1), and the pointer icon 100 can be moved vertically(arrow B2) by tracing the frame 3 in the vertical direction (arrow A2).The wearable information terminal 1 detects that it has been operated bya hand 6 of the user by the contact detection unit 4 disposed in theframe 3, and moves the pointer icon 100. Thereby, the pointer icon 100moves from the position before moving (displayed by the pointer iconshown by the dotted line) to the position of the pointer icon 100.

Thus, according to the example of FIG. 10, the selection operation canbe executed while confirming the display content of the small screen 2,and the malfunction can be reduced compared to the case of selection bydirect touch of the screen 2 with the finger.

(Desktop Screen 2)

FIG. 11 is a drawing that shows another example in which the desktopscreen is made to transit by frame operation. In the desktop screen ofFIG. 11, icons of the applications are displayed on the screen 2 alongthe peripheral direction of the frame 3. In this case, the pointer icon100 moves along the frame 3 (arrow B3) by that the user traces the frame3 (arrow A3). Also, in this example, the pointer icon 100 may bedisplayed, but display of the pointer icon 100 is not indispensable. Forexample, in a case where the pointer icon 100 has not been displayed,such display of allowing the user to clearly know the present selectedposition is made such as an enlarged display of the selected icon.

(Browser)

FIG. 12 is a drawing that shows an example in which the browser screenis made to transit by frame operation. In the browser screen of FIG. 12,plural folders are overlappingly displayed, and it is assumed that afolder 9 has been selected at present by the pointer icon 100. When theuser intends to select another folder 11 in this state, the user changesthe folder to be selected by tracing the frame 3 in the width direction(arrow A4) for example. Although the folders overlappingly displayedwere exemplified here, such web pages and the like are also possible forexample that plural web pages are activated and are overlappinglydisplayed. According to the example of FIG. 12, the selection operationcan be executed while confirming the display contents of the smallscreen 2, and the malfunction can be reduced compared to the selectionby direct touch of the screen 2 with the finger.

(Map Application)

FIG. 13 to FIG. 15 are drawings that show examples in which the mapscreen is made to transit by frame operation. As shown in FIG. 13, forexample, when it is intended to browse a map by the small screen 2, thepointer icon 100 is used for selecting a specific position of thedisplayed content. Similarly to the example described above, the pointericon 100 moves to the lateral direction (arrow B5) or the verticaldirection (arrow B6) of the screen 2 by tracing the frame 3 in thelateral direction (arrow A5) or the vertical direction (arrow A6).

For example, by tracing the frame 3 clockwise as illustrated by thearrow C1 of FIG. 14 after selecting a specific position (a positionwhere the pointer icon 100 is displayed in FIG. 13 is equivalent to thespecific position), the display transits from the initial display size(refer to FIG. 14 (a)) to the enlarged display (refer to FIG. 14 (b)).

Further, it is also possible to allocate a different function accordingto a tracing method such as contraction by counterclockwise tracing, andso on.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 15, contraction or expansion may be alsoexecuted by pinch-in (refer to FIG. 15 (a)) or pinch-out (refer to FIG.15 (b)) of the frame 3.

When the screen 2 was directly touched or swiped and so on by thefingertip and the operation including contraction or expansion and thelike of the screen was executed as done in the past, there was a problemthat the screen 2 was hidden by the operating fingertip and, wheninformation incapable of being fitted into one screen such as a map wasto be scrolled for example, it was hard to know the part and directionto which scroll was performed. However, according to the presentexample, operation of contraction, expansion and the like of theselected position is possible while confirming the map displayed on thesmall screen 2, there is an effect that the operation contents are quiteobvious for the operating user himself/herself, and the malfunction canbe reduced. As an associated effect, there is also an advantage that astain such as a fingerprint is hardly attached onto the liquid crystalscreen.

(Quadrangular Frame)

FIG. 16 is a drawing that shows an operation example of a wearableinformation terminal having a quadrangular frame, wherein (a) shows astandard size display example, and (b) shows an enlarged displayexample. The vertical axis and horizontal axis of the frame 3 are deemedto be the y-axis and the x-axis respectively, and the xy-coordinate isdesignated. Thereby, a specific position can be selected easily. Forexample, when it is intended to select a specific position at the timeof browsing a map, if a position is touched by the fingertip, the targetposition is hidden because the screen 2 is small. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 16, utilizing the frame 3 of the wearable information terminal 1 a,the vertical axis and the horizontal axis are touched simultaneously bytwo fingers. By selecting one point determined with the coordinate ofthe vertical axis touched as the y-coordinate and with the coordinate ofthe horizontal axis touched as the x-coordinate, even when the smallscreen 2 is not touched directly, a position of the designatedcoordinate can be selected.

FIG. 17 is a drawing that shows a hardware configuration of the wearableinformation terminal shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a drawing that showsan input signal processing for designating the xy-coordinate with thevertical axis and horizontal axis of the frame being deemed to be they-axis and the x-axis respectively. As shown in FIG. 17, in the wearableinformation terminal 1 a, each of contact detection units 431 and 432 isdisposed in each vertical side (the vertical side means a side where theaxial direction of the side agrees to the vertical direction of theletters displayed on the screen) of the quadrangular frame 3, and eachof contact detection units 433 and 434 is disposed in each lateral side(the lateral side means a side where the axial direction of the sideagrees to the lateral direction of the letters displayed on the screen).

As shown in FIG. 18, when the operation conversion unit 22 acquires aninput signal showing that a point X1 (x3, y3) on the contact detectionunit 434 and a point Y1 (x1, y1) on the contact detection unit 431 havebeen touched simultaneously, the operation conversion unit 22 generatesan operation signal showing that a coordinate P1 (xa3, ya1) on thescreen corresponding to an x-coordinate x3 of the point X1 and ay-coordinate y1 of the point Y1 has been designated. Thereafter, basedon the time series change of the input signals acquired from each of thecontact detection units 431, 434 outputted accompanying transit of eachof the touch positions X1, Y1 to the touch positions X2 (x4, y4), Y2(x2,y2), it is determined that the selected position within the screen 2 haschanged to P2 (xa4, ya2).

The operation conversion unit 22 calculates the distance from apredetermined origin O to P1 and the distance from the origin O to P2,and calculates (OP1/OP2) as an enlargement factor. The operationconversion unit 22 outputs the enlargement factor to the display controlunit 23. According to this enlargement factor, the display control unit23 displays a rectangular region including the diagonal line OP1 in anenlarged view. Further, although an example of enlarging display wasshown in FIG. 17, when P2 is closer to the origin O compared to P1,contractive display is also possible.

In the present example, when the operation conversion unit 22 acquiresan input signal showing that each of two different contact detectionunits for example 431, 434 has detected the contact operation of theuser, the operation conversion unit 22 specifies the coordinate of onepoint on the screen based on these two input signals. Also, when theoperation conversion unit 22 acquires an input signal showing that eachof two different contact detection units has detected operation ofcontinuously changing the contact position after detection of thecontact operation of the user, the operation conversion unit 22generates an operation signal for enlarging (or contracting) the screenaccording to the point movement amount from the first point P1 on thescreen specified when the contact operation of the user is detectedfirst to the second point P2 on the screen specified when change of thecontact position of the user finished, and the display control unit 23executes enlarging display or contracting display of the screenaccording to the operation signal.

Although the map display was exemplified in the present example, thepresent invention is not limited to this as a matter of course, andother applications are also possible. Further, although explanation wasmade exemplifying the operation using two vertical and horizontal sidesin the present example, operations utilizing three sides or four sidesare also possible. In those cases, such method and the like are possiblefor example that, when a multi-screen is displayed on the screen 2, atouch sensor and the like that can control each screen independently areoperated utilizing three sides or four sides.

(Example of Co-Using Pressure-Sensitive Sensor)

FIG. 19 shows an operation example of a wearable information terminalusing a pressure-sensitive sensor as the contact detection unit 4. Thewearable information terminal 1 b can detect intensity of touch by usinga pressure-sensitive sensor as the contact detection unit 4. Also, bystrong pressing, determination operation for example can be inputted.There is such use method that determination operation is inputted bypressing the frame 3 after selecting a specific position by the methoddescribed in each example explained above.

Also, when the contact detection unit 4 is not used as apressure-sensitive sensor, it is also possible to be implemented byother methods that a physical button is disposed and determinationoperation is inputted by pressing down the button, and so on.

FIG. 20 is a drawing that shows another operation example of thewearable information terminal 1 b using a pressure-sensitive sensor asthe contact detection unit 4. For example, screen operation of thescreen scroll and the like is executed when the frame 3 is pressedweakly (the left drawing of FIG. 20: the screen scrolls to the left),and determination operation is inputted when the frame 3 is pressedstrongly (the center drawing of FIG. 20). In the example of FIG. 20, byselecting a music screen and executing determination operation, themusic screen is activated (the right drawing of FIG. 20).

FIG. 21 is a drawing that shows an operation example of a wearableinformation terminal 1 c including a pressure-sensitive sensor on thebottom surface. For example, the contact detection units 4 are disposednot only on the surface of the frame 3 (in the periphery of the screen2) but also in a portion contacting (a part of) the body of the wearerout of the bottom surface 3 a of the frame 3. The hardware configurationof disposing a pressure-sensitive sensor on the bottom surface 3 a ofthe frame 3 has been already explained using FIG. 3 (b). As shown inFIG. 21, screen operation such as a scroll of the screen 2 upward,moving the pointer icon 100 upward, and so on is allowed by that theuser pinches the frame 3 and presses the frame 3 to the upper side(arrow A7) for example toward a part of the body (the arm in thedrawing) that contacts the wearable information terminal 1 c.

Also, FIG. 22 is a drawing that shows another operation example of thewearable information terminal 1 c including a pressure-sensitive sensoron the bottom surface. As shown in FIG. 22, determination operation canbe inputted by that the user pinches the frame 3, and presses the frame3 to the depth direction for example (equivalent to a motion of pressingthe frame 3 to the arm of the user) toward a part of the body (the armin the drawing) that contacts the wearable information terminal 1 c.

(Telephone Application)

FIG. 23 is a drawing that shows an operation example in a telephoneapplication. With respect to the wearable information terminal 1 of FIG.23, the periphery of the frame 3 is separated into 12, and the contactdetection unit 4 is disposed for each of the separated region of theframe 3. Each separated region is arranged so as to correspond to theposition where 1 to 12 of the dial plate of a watch are disposed. Thatis to say, the frame 3 of a wearable information terminal 1 d is deemedto be a dial plate of a watch, a contact detection unit corresponding to1 of the dial plate outputs an input signal of 1 when the touch motionis detected, and a contact detection unit of the position correspondingto each of 2, 3, . . . 9 of the dial plate outputs an input signal ofeach of 2, 3, . . . 9 in a similar manner. Also, it may be configuredthat a contact detection unit of the position corresponding to 10 of thedial plate outputs an input signal of 0 of a numerical character whenthe touch motion is detected. Further, with respect to a contactdetection unit of the position corresponding to 11 of the dial plate,ENTER key and a symbol # may be allocated. Also, when the wearableinformation terminal is made to function as an electronic calculator,the decimal point may be allocated.

When the wearable information terminal is used for a telephoneapplication, as shown in FIG. 23, a phone call can be transmitted byoperating the frame 3. For example, when it is intended to make a phonecall to “119”, by tapping the corresponding parts of “1” and “9” of theframe 3 (the left drawing of FIG. 23), a phone call to “119” can betransmitted (the right drawing of FIG. 23).

Also, the phone number is not necessarily be of three digits. Further,the phone number is not the must, and dialing may be by abbreviated dialfor example which has been registered in the telephone directorybeforehand (for example, the phone number of the one's house isregistered at the abbreviated dial number “1”, and phone call istransmitted to the one's house when “1” is tapped, and so on). Also,whether the numerical character is displayed on the screen 2 is not theobject, and the operation described above only has to be possible in allcases. Further, the operation described above should be allowed evenwhen the shape of the screen 2 is not circular but is triangular,quadrangular, or polygonal having more sides. In addition, the user isto be capable of uniquely setting an input method for “0” that does notexist on the dial plate of a watch but exists in the phone number andfor “10”, “11”, “12”, and the like that exist on the dial plate of awatch but do not exist in the phone number to the contrary. For example,“10” of the dial plate of a watch may be used as a substitute for “0” ofthe phone number, and “11” and “12” of the dial plate of a watch may beallocated for redialing, message-recording telephone, and the like.

Also, as mentioned above, in the calculator application (electroniccalculator application) also, the calculation process such as the fourbasic arithmetic operations can be executed by operation of touching theframe by allocating numerical characters of 1 to 0 to the frame 3.

(Scroll of Screen)

FIG. 24 is a drawing that shows a frame operation example (scroll of thescreen). It is configured that, when such screen as an e-mail forexample not fitted into one screen is to be displayed, as shown in FIG.24, the screen can be scrolled downward (arrow B7) (the right drawing ofFIG. 24) by tracing the frame 3 of the wearable information terminal 1clockwise (arrow C2 direction) by the finger (the left drawing of FIG.24). Thereby, because it is not necessary to touch the screen 2 directlyas done in the past, the screen can be operated while confirming thedisplayed content. As the applications where the effects of the presentembodiment can be expected, a memorandum note, telephone directory, andthe like for example can be cited in addition to the e-mail. The frameoperation of the present example is achieved by that the operationconversion unit 22 receives a position where the contact detection unit4 has been touched beforehand and the time series change of the inputsignal thereafter (an input signal showing movement along the peripheraldirection), and the input signal is converted to a screen scroll signalof the frame and is outputted to the display control unit 23.

FIG. 25 is a drawing that shows another example of the frame operation(scroll of the screen). By detecting the position of starting to tracethe frame 3 by the contact detection unit 4, movement of the finger isreflected to the screen operation. For example, as shown in FIG. 25 (a),by starting tracing from a position equivalent to the vicinity of 12o'clock of a so-called analog watch of the frame 3 (arrow C3), thescreen can be scrolled vertically. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 25(b), by starting tracing from a position equivalent to the vicinity of 9o'clock (arrow C4), the screen can be scrolled to the left and right.The frame operation of the present example is achieved by that theoperation conversion unit 22 acquires a position where the contactdetection unit 4 is touched first and an input signal outputtedaccompanying a tracing motion thereafter, determines the direction ofthe touching motion based on the time series change of the input signal(an input signal showing movement along the peripheral direction),decides the screen scroll direction according to the touch motion,generates a signal of the screen scroll to the direction, and outputsthe signal to the display control unit 23.

FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 are drawings that show another example of the frameoperation (scroll of the screen). A scroll of the screen 2 downward(arrow B8 direction) as shown in FIG. 26 (a) can be achieved by touchingthe lower part of the frame 3. Also, a scroll of the screen 2 to theupper right (arrow B9 direction) as shown in FIG. 26 (b) can be achievedby touching the upper right part of the frame 3.

It may be configured that the displayed screen is scrolled to the right(arrow B10 direction) by touching the right side of the frame 3 as shownin FIG. 27. Frame operation of FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 can be achieved bythat the frame 3 is separated in all directions of 360° radially fromthe center of the screen 2 regardless of the shape such as the circularshape or the quadrangular shape for example, and the operationconversion unit 22 acquires an input signal showing the touch positionof the contact detection unit 4, converts the input signal to a screenscroll signal for a scroll of the screen along a line that connects thecenter of the screen 2 and the touch position to each other, and outputsthe screen scroll signal to the display control unit 23.

(Sound Controller)

FIG. 28 is a drawing that shows a frame operation example in a soundcontroller screen. With respect to a sound controller in a reproductionapplication for a motion picture and music for example, it is knownthat, in general, the reproduction position in the music, the soundvolume, and the like can be selected using a bar displayed. However, ina small screen, it is hard to operate the bar displayed smaller by thefingertip. Therefore, it may be configured to allow an operation such asshifting the selection position on a bar 60 of a sound controlleraccording to the tracing amount of the operation conversion unit 22 by atracing operation of the frame 3, and selecting the music, sound volume,and reproduction position in the music.

(Screen Separation)

FIG. 29 is a drawing that shows a frame operation (screen separation) ofthe wearable information terminal 1. Plural contact detection units 4are disposed in the frame 3, or one contact detection unit 4 is disposedand the operation conversion unit 22 executes plural separation controllogically, and each of contact detection units 4 a, 4 b is madecontrollable independently. For example, in the wearable informationterminal 1 of FIG. 29, the contact detection units are disposedannularly (refer to FIG. 6) for the frame 3 having an annular shape.When the direction orthogonal to the wearing section 5 is defined as thescreen horizontal direction, the contact detection unit is to beseparately disposed in each of the upper and lower half circles obtainedby dividing the frame 3 in the screen horizontal direction, and each ofthe contact detection units can be independently controlled. Forexample, in a case where the screen 2 is vertically separated into 2, inFIG. 6, the operation conversion unit 22 defines that the contactdetection units 401, 402, 403, 413, 414, and 415 (these are collectivelyreferred to as a contact detection unit 4 a 1) are used for frameoperation of the upper screen, and an input signal showing that thecontact detection unit 4 a 1 has been touched is converted to anoperation signal for the upper screen. Also, an input signal showingthat the contact detection units 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, and 409 (theseare collectively referred to as a contact detection unit 4 a 2) havebeen touched is converted to an operation signal for the lower screen.

The wearable information terminal 1 configured thus has effectsdescribed below. When receipt of the phone call is notified while theuser browses a map for example, two or more screens are to be displayedsimultaneously on the screen 2 of the wearable information terminal 1(the left drawing of FIG. 29). When the telephone motion is to beselected, the touch sensor disposed on the screen 2 may be pressed, orthe contact detection unit 4 a 2 may be pressed to input thedetermination key. After holding up the phone thus to bring up thecommunication state (the center drawing of FIG. 29), if it is intendedto browse a map simultaneously in an enlarged view, enlarging operationcan be inputted (the left drawing of FIG. 29) by tracing the contactdetection unit 4 a 1 by the finger (arrow C5), and so on. That is tosay, the effect by the present example is that proper independentcontrol matching each displayed screen is possible even in amulti-screen because the contact detection units 4 a 1, 4 a 2 areseparately disposed in the frame 3.

Further, although the present example was explained exemplifying both of“holding up the received phone call” and “displaying the map in anenlarged view”, it is a matter of course that the present invention isnot limited to them, and other screen operation under a situation ofrequiring a multi-screen or multi-motion is also possible.

FIG. 30 and FIG. 32 are drawings that show a return operation from amalfunction of a wearable information terminal 1. Also, FIG. 31 is aschematic configuration drawing of a wearable information terminal 1 ereceiving a return operation from a malfunction. “Malfunction” explainedhere is to mean that the displayed content does not transit as per theintention of the user with respect to operation using the finger such astouching and tapping. When the displayed content has not transited asper the intention of the user, by inputting “turning back” operation(return operation” by some other operation, the displayed content can bereturned to the original screen.

As concrete operation by the user, the frame 3 is double-tapped as shownin FIG. 30 (a). When the contact detection unit 4 detects the double tapand outputs an input signal showing the double tap to the operationconversion unit 22, the operation conversion unit 22 converts the doubletap input signal to a return signal, and outputs the return signal tothe display control unit 23. The display control unit 23 reads the lastscreen information stored in the screen management information storageunit 25, and makes the screen transit to the last state based on thelast screen information.

Instead of double tapping, in a case of the wearable informationterminal 1 e obtained by laminating a touch panel 50 on the screen 2(refer to FIG. 31), tapping of the screen 2 may be made return operation(FIG. 30 (b)).

Also, tracing operation of the screen 2 along with the wearing section 5(FIG. 32 (a), arrow D1) may be made return operation. In this case, itis possible that a contact detection unit is disposed further in aperipheral part of the frame 3 of the wearing section 5 beforehand, and,when the operation conversion unit 22 acquires an input signal of thecontact detection unit (not illustrated) disposed in the wearing section5, the input signal is converted to a return signal.

When operation of tracing the screen 2 along with the wearing section 5is executed, the contact detection unit 4 disposed across the screen 2detects a touch motion within a predetermined time. In this regard, itis also possible that, when the contact detection unit 4 disposed acrossthe screen 2 detects the touch motion within a time that is set fordetermination to be the motion time of the finger tracing the screen 2along with the wearing section 5 (within 1 second for example), theoperation conversion unit 22 converts an input signal to a returnsignal, the input signal being based on the touch motion.

Further, it is also possible that a physical return operation button 19is disposed in the frame 3 as shown in FIG. 32 (b), “turning back”operation is allocated to the return operation button 19, and theoperation conversion unit 22 acquires an input signal of the returnoperation button 9 and coverts the input signal to a return signal.

Further, although the present example was explained citing severalcases, it is a matter of course that the present invention is notlimited to them, and it is needless to say that the operation contentfor inputting “return back” changes according to an application havingbeen activated by a user.

According to the present embodiment, by using the frame 3 as anoperation member, it is possible to directly touch the screen by thefinger at the time of operation, and to execute screen operation whilepreventing that the screen is hidden by the finger and becomesinvisible. Also, even when a specific position of the screen is smallerthan the finger, because screen operation can be executed by operating aframe larger than the specific position without directly touching thespecific position of the screen, operability improves. Further, becauseit is not necessary to touch the screen directly, finger mark stainingcaused by touching the screen can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above,and includes various modifications other than the modificationsdescribed above. For example, the embodiments described above wereexplained in detail for the purpose of easy understanding of the presentinvention, and are not necessarily limited to those including allconfigurations explained. Also, a part of a configuration of anembodiment can be replaced with a configuration of another embodiment,and a configuration of an embodiment can be added with a configurationof another embodiment. Further, with respect to a part of aconfiguration of each embodiment, addition, deletion, and replacement ofother configurations are possible.

Further, a part or all of each of the configurations, functions,processing units, processing devices, and the like described above canbe achieved by hardware by designing by an integrated circuit and thelike for example. Also, each of the configurations, functions, and thelike described above can be achieved by software by that a processorinterprets and executes programs achieving each function.

For example, the screen operation mentioned in the present descriptionincludes all kinds of content which is difficult to handle because theicon and the like of an operation object displayed on the screen 2 has agenerally same size compared to a part of the body represented by thefinger and the like for operation. The content which is difficult tohandle is for example a scroll operation of the screen, a selection ofthe icon, inputting, selection, and the like. Further, although theembodiments described above were explained using the examples of awearable information terminal of a wrist watch type, a shape like afinger ring type for example is also possible. Furthermore, although thescreen 2 and the frame 3 of the wearable information terminal 1 wereexplained citing the examples of the circular shape and the quadrangularshape, it is a matter of course that the shape is not limited to them,and the shape of the triangular and other polygonal shapes are alsopossible.

Also, although the embodiments described above were explainedexemplifying the touch sensor and the pressure-sensitive sensor for thecontact detection unit 4, it is also possible to dispose a gyroscopesensor instead for example (refer to FIG. 33). When the touch sensor andthe pressure-sensitive sensor are disposed, the wearable informationterminal 1 of a wrist watch type for example is required to be operatedusing the finger of the hand that does not wear the wearable informationterminal 1 and it is necessary to use both hands; however, a gyroscopesensor 70 is mounted within the frame 3 and is connected to thecontroller 20 as shown in FIG. 33. When the change amount of the angularvelocity of a wearable information terminal if is detected and theoperation conversion unit 22 converts this change amount of the angularvelocity to an operation signal, operation only by an arm that wears thewearable information terminal if becomes possible, therefore anotherhand becomes free, and the degree of freedom of the user improves. As anoperation example using a gyroscope sensor, it is also possible to movean arm wearing the wearable information terminal 1 so that the wearableinformation terminal if tilts downward to the right (downward to theleft), and to convert the change amount of the angular velocity at thattime to an operation signal for a scroll to the right direction of thescreen (to the left direction of the screen). In this case, because thegyroscope sensor achieves a function of detecting the user operation,the gyroscope sensor functions as an operation detection unit. Further,it may be configured that only a pressure-sensitive sensor (bottomsurface contact detection unit) is provided on the bottom surface bottomsurface of the frame 3 as the operation detection unit.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 . . . Wearable information terminal-   2 . . . Display unit-   3 . . . Frame-   4 . . . Contact detection unit-   4 a . . . Contact detection unit 1-   4 b . . . Contact detection unit 2-   5 . . . Wearing section-   6 . . . Operating hand of user-   7 . . . Hand wearing wearable information terminal-   8 . . . Arm wearing wearable information terminal-   19 . . . Return operation button-   100 . . . Pointer icon

1. A wearable information terminal that can be worn by a user,comprising: a main body; a display configured to be incorporated in themain body and including a screen; a controller configured to beincorporated in the main body and executes display processing onto thescreen; and an operation detector configured to detect input operationsperformed by the user with respect to the controller, wherein theoperation detector is further configured to be disposed in the main bodyat a different position from the position of the screen.
 2. The wearableinformation terminal according to claim 1, wherein the main bodyincludes a frame including a frame section that surrounds an outerperiphery of the screen, and the operation detector is disposed in theframe section along the outer periphery of the screen and is configuredas a contact detector that detects contact operation of the user.
 3. Thewearable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the contactdetector is configured of a touch sensor or a pressure-sensitive sensor.4. The wearable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein aplurality of contact detectors configured separately are disposed in theframe section along the outer periphery of the screen, and thecontroller includes an operation converter that recognizes from whichcontact detector an input signal is, and generates an operation signaldependent on each contact detector.
 5. The wearable information terminalaccording to claim 4, wherein the controller includes: a screenmanagement information storage that separates the screen into aplurality of regions, and stores screen separation information in whicheach separated region is associated with each of the contact detectionunits; an operation converter that acquires, when the contact detectordetects contact operation of the user, an input signal includinginformation showing the contact detector that has detected the contactoperation of the user and a detection signal of the contact operation,refers to the screen separation information to determine the separatedregion to which the operation is performed, and generates an operationsignal based on the determination result; and a display controller thatoutputs a display control signal for the screen based on the operationsignal.
 6. The wearable information terminal according to claim 2,further comprising a bottom surface contact detector configured of apressure-sensitive sensor in the frame on a bottom surface that is onthe opposite side of a surface where the screen is disposed.
 7. Thewearable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller includes: an operation information storage storing operationinformation in which a kind of application software executed in thewearable information terminal is associated with an operation contentshown by contact operation of the user in each application software; anoperation converter that converts, when an input signal is acquired fromthe operation detector, the input signal showing that the user hasdetected contact operation, the input signal to an operation signal thatshows the operation content based on the operation information; and adisplay controller that outputs a display control signal for executingdisplay control of the screen according to the operation signal.
 8. Thewearable information terminal according to claim 7, wherein thecontroller further includes a screen management information storage unitstoring last screen information that shows a last screen before thescreen transits on the screen, when the operation detector detects thatthe user has executed operation for inputting a command for returning tothe last screen, the operation converter converts an input signal fromthe operation detector unit to an operation signal for returning to thelast screen, and the display controller reads the last screeninformation from the screen management information storage and changesthe screen to a display of the last screen.
 9. The wearable informationterminal according to claim 4, wherein, when an input signal showingthat each of two different contact detectors has detected contactoperation of the user is acquired, the operation converter specifies acoordinate of one point on a screen based on these two input signals.10. The wearable information terminal according to claim 9, wherein,when an input signal is acquired, the input signal showing thatoperation of changing the contact position is detected continuouslyafter each of the two different contact detectors has received contactoperation of the user, the operation converter generates an operationsignal for enlarging or contracting the screen according to a pointmoving amount from a first point on the screen determined when contactoperation of the user was detected first to a second point on the screendetermined when change of a contact point of the user finished.
 11. Thewearable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein a gyroscopesensor is further provided as the operation detector, and the controllerfurther includes an operation converter that converts an angularvelocity signal outputted by the gyroscope sensor to an operation signalof a user with respect to the wearable information terminal.